PRESS STATEMENT

BY
HON. GIDUDU MAFWABI DOMINIC, MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELDERLY AFFAIRS, GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

ON THE
CABINET DECISION TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES FOR THE OLDER PERSONS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
AT
THE UGANDA MEDIA CENTRE



Members Of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.I wish to address you today, on the progress of implementation of social development programmes, that target older persons and the decision by Government to ensure enhancement, increased access and sustainability of the programmes. One of the Programmes is the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE), a Programme under which Government provides the Senior Citizens a monthly predictable cash transfer, to support them access basic needs and live dignified lives.

2.You may recall, that in 2010, with the support of development partners; UKAid, Irish Aid and UNICEF, Government established the SAGE. The Programme was first piloted in 15 districts of Kole, Apac, Amudat, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Napak, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Kaberamaido, Katakwi, Kyegegwa, Nebbi, Zombo, and Yumbe, to generate lessons from which government would take a decision to expand the grant, as a way of establishing a social protection system for the country. The pilot phase was also meant to build systems to manage social cash transfers and to support the development of the national social protection policy framework for the country.

Lessons from the SAGE Pilot
3.The pilot phase registered tremendous success, because we were able to establish systems for social protection delivery, generated evidence on the impacts to inform administrative feasibility and long-term sustainability mechanisms. Government also developed the National Social protection Policy, which was later launched in 2015.

4.Over the years, we have seen the lives of older persons changing for better, with positive impacts seen through better nutrition outcomes, improved access to health and education, improved savings, investments and productivity at community level, which has positively impacted on local and national economies.

National coverage of the SAGE
5.By June 2019, the programme had expanded to 61 districts, reaching over 200,000 beneficiaries. Due to the positive impacts and in response to the demand from citizens across the board, Government took a decision to rollout the SAGE nationally. In March 2020, H.E the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, launched the national rollout in Mbale, to cover all the remaining districts, cities and municipalities. However, the age threshold was set at 80 years and above, with the idea that it would be progressively revised downwards in a few years.

6.Implementation of the national rollout was executed at the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic, and this supported beneficiaries to have some income security during the pandemic. The national rollout also increased the number of beneficiaries and currently, 306,759 are benefiting from the monthly shs.25,000 delivered on a quarterly basis. Meaning, beneficiaries receive shs.75,000 shillings every 3 months.

The Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons (SEGOP)
7.Government of Uganda has continuously put in place a number of programmes aimed at reducing poverty and vulnerability among older persons. In FY 2022/23, the Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons (SEGOP) was initiated, with a 10bn funding allocation, with the goal of improving the quality of life and dignity of older persons through provision of financial support and specialized entrepreneurial trainings for income generation.

8.The grant targets older persons aged 60-79 years, receiving the support in groups of 5-10people. The SEGOP initiative has benefited 13,449 beneficiaries (6,565 men and 6,884 women) across 181 Local Governments.

Other Programmes supporting Older Persons in Uganda

9.As you are aware, Uganda is one of leading countries in humanitarian assistance programmes globally. Beyond the routine emergency refugee operations, and as part of the recovery programmes, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in partnership with Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), with support from the Government of Ireland and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has initiated a Social Cash Transfer Programme for Elderly Refugees.
10.The programme has replicated the SAGE model, and so far, operational in Lobule settlement under Koboko district, and Bidibidi settlement under Yumbe district, reaching over 350 beneficiaries. Currently, under this Programme, verification and enrolment processes are ongoing in Rhino Settlement in Madi-Okollo and part of Terego districts, to ensure expansion of coverage to reach a total of 700 beneficiaries.

11.Older Persons have also been mainstreamed into the Parish Development Model (PDM) Agenda, with a dedicated 10% allocation to help them start small businesses. Results show that out of the 1,022,902 beneficiaries of PDM, 3% are Older Persons.
Government decision to enhance the SAGE and SEGOP
12.Government takes pride in the strides so far made through the available programmes and recognizes the impact created in the lives of beneficiaries. To consolidate the gains so far made and enhance household incomes, Government has made a decision to;

13.Lower the eligibility age for the SAGE from the current 80 years to 65 years, effective next Financial Year, 2026/27.
14.To actualize this decision, Government will provide an additional budget worth Ugx. 252.16billion to the programme in the next Financial Year 2026/27. This will be a top up to the current budget of Ugx.121.2bn, bringing the total budget to Ugx. 373.36bn required to reach the 1,048,598 beneficiaries aged 65years and above.

Over the past Financial years, the SAGE programme incurred accumulated arrears worth Ugx.20.6billion and the SEGOP had a funding gap of Ugx.5bn to cover the unfunded groups for frail older persons under the Special Enterprise Grant initiative. Government has agreed to provide funds to cover the Ugx 20.6bn arrears under SAGE and Ugx.5bn for SEGOP, during this financial year 2025/26, to boost the income security for our older persons.

15.Allow me take this opportunity to remind and urge all older persons to utilize the opportunity and register for the national ID. Without a national ID, access to social development programmes including SAGE, SEGOP and other programmes, will become a challenge, because the grants are delivered through a bank account and a National Identification Number (NIN) is a key requirement for bank account opening.

As a Ministry, we will continue to exercise our mandate and work out strategies that will promote and sustain livelihoods of vulnerable individuals. Currently, we are working on the strategy to extend social security to the informal sector workers as well as sensitizing them on the importance of engaging in saving schemes. Government will continue to allocate funds to the implementation of Programmes but it’s the duty of the beneficiaries to utilize the resources effectively.

16.I also urge our citizens, especially the older persons to maintain the peace and safety of their respective families. Safety is key to maintaining dignity in communities. Economic empowerment must go alongside a peaceful and secure environment.

17.By engaging in government programmes, older persons contribute greatly to the implementation of the NDP IV and vision 2040, which emphasize social protection, wealth creation, and good governance. I therefore urge you to stay vigilant and remain actively engaged in activities that will increase your income security and contribute to the overall national development.
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY